And after jetting out of Atlanta on Sunday night he hit Tyneside on Monday lunchtime, training with the squad yesterday afternoon.

After encountering problems with his initial visa submission, Jackson was left to sweat it out back in Georgia in the States and work on the majority of pre-season by himself.

As the days and weeks ticked by the Eagles management of Blake and coach Fab Flournoy became increasingly concerned, but both are now happy to have one of their star men back in the fold.

With the Cheshire Jets at the Arena on Friday night (tip-off 7.30pm) for the season opener, Blake admitted Jackson has arrived in the nick of time. The Duquesne University man will form a new back-court alliance with Joe Chapman, a partnership that Blake said will need time to develop, irrespective of Jackson’s late arrival.

Blake said: “It’s great to have Reggie finally back in the North East and training with the squad.

“He’s feeling fine, he’s fit and will definitely be involved on Friday night.

“We’re all just glad the situation is over and that Reggie can get down to doing what he does best.”

Playing down the significance of Friday’s behind-closed-doors friendly win over Sheffield, Blake said Flournoy’s men will be in top shape come this weekend’s season opener.

Tipping the squad to be as dangerous – if not more so – than last term, Blake said: “We actually won Friday’s friendly by three, but both coaches mixed things up quite a lot, so it’s in no way a fair reflection of where either team is right now.

“But when we look at the squad, we are excited by what we see.

“I said at the end of last season that if we could hold on to that roster that we would be a force, and while we haven’t obviously managed that I think we are just as strong.

“We’ve lost two in Trey Moore and Tafari Toney, but we’ve gained two as well, through Joe Chapman and the return to fitness of Lynard Stewart, who really didn’t play a lot last year.

“Lynard’s a very important player for us, so to have him back to full fitness is a huge boost.”